THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales, and a separate article on interesting recent listings across the country.

• Jacky Cheung secures NSW’s Balarang Station
• Qld Thomson River holding sells after 100 years
• Alice Springs producer expands with Qld’s Old Euston
• Two SA pastoral stations sell

Jacky Cheung secures NSW’s Balarang Station

The buyer of Balarang Station, one of the ten largest holdings in New South Wales’ Upper Hunter, has been revealed as Chinese-born, Sydney-based investor Jacky Cheung.

Mr Cheung owns Marina Seven Holdings which recently paid around $88 million for the Commins Portfolio – an institutional grade irrigated opportunity underpinned by substantial water entitlements in southern New South Wales.

In March 2022, Mr Cheung paid more than $11.25m for the nearby 1679ha Timor Creek (see video below), a well-developed beef cattle operation situated 29km from Murrurundi and 45 minutes north-east of Scone.

The 5810ha Balarang Station, north-east of Scone, (pictured above) is bookended by the notable Waverley and Timor Stations and neighbours the 2122ha Fernleigh featured in this week’s properties for sale section.

Since the late 1990s, Balarang has been used as a cattle trading enterprise using regenerative practices by Sydney-based investment company Fostoria Fannon.

McGrath Upper Hunter agent Michael Burke, who handled the off-market transaction, was unable to disclose the price paid but property records show the company paid $32.5 million for Balarang.

Mr Burke described it as one of the biggest properties transacted in the Timor district in the last two decades.

“It is second to the sale of the 30,756ha Glenrock Station that my father and I transacted in 2015 – one of the biggest sales in my career spanning the past 21 years,” he said.

Qld Thomson River holding sells after 100 years

More than 100 years of Doyle family ownership has ended with the sale of Rosabel on the banks of the Thomson River, in central western Queensland.

Located 66km from Longreach and 94km from Stonehenge, the 10,898ha holding has sold at auction for $7.3 million.

Rosabel is close to markets near Blackall and Roma, as well as spelling, weighing and saleyard facilities near Longreach and Winton.

It encompasses 4910ha of bluebush flood-out country from the Thomson River and Katherine Creek, and 5030ha of heavy black soil, open Mitchell grass downs and some sandy loam buffel grass ridges.

Capable of running 1123 adult equivalents, Rosabel supports a strong stand of perennial grasses complimented by seasonal grasses and native herbages.

During the marketing campaign, RPL agent Wally Cooper said the vegetation diversity not only sustains stock but also signifies the fertility of the country.

“Rosabel provides the options to either breed, background or finish. Spelled since 2022, the property is carrying an excellent body of feed, ready for the incoming purchaser to bring in stock immediately.”

Rosabel is watered by five dams (four are equipped), three waterholes in the Thomson River channels (providing water for nine to 12 months) and two waterholes in Four Mile Creek (for up to eight months).

Infrastructure includes two homes, two cattle yards and numerous sheds.

Alice Springs producer expands with Qld’s Old Euston

An Alice Springs producer is expanding with western Queensland backgrounding country.

The 22,908ha Old Euston Station is located 100km north-west of Longreach and 120km south-west of Winton.

The country is a mix of Mitchell grass open downs with sweet pebbly ridges and gidgee growing seasonal herbages, succulents and annual grasses, including Flinders and button.

Creek systems are heavily grassed with buffel and shaded with coolibah and bloodwood.

Subject to seasonal conditions, Old Euston Station can run 2200AE. It is currently carrying 1500 cows and calves and 600 steers.

TopX agent Phillip Avery was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, but said the price met expectations.

Earlier this year, Mr Avery described the country on Old Euston as strong and safe.

“The strength is reflected in the cattle it produces, high calving percentages, excellent bone structure and first-class weight gains.”

“Currently experiencing an excellent season, the property will run a power of cattle this year,” Mr Avery said.

Old Euston is watered by two bores and 15 dams supported by multiple creek systems and channels in a 425mm average annual rainfall region.

Improvements include airconditioned quarters, two sheds and steel cattle yards.

The sale was handled by TopX and RPL.

Two SA pastoral stations sell

A long-standing family owner in the region has secured Lake Torrens Station in South Australia’s renowned Flinders Ranges.

Elders agent Adam Chilcott, who handled the sale, was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid but said it met vendor expectations and would complement the new owner’s existing operations.

When Lake Torrens was offered to the market in June by John and Julie Rowe after 40 years of ownership, it was listed for $5.4 million.

Mr Chilcott reported genuine interest from New South Wales and Western Australia producers seeking better value for money country, exceptional water and geographic diversity.

The 43,300ha Lake Torrens is located 57km north-west of Hawker and 160km from Port Augusta.

Established in 1854, it was named in honour of South Australia’s Sir Robert Richard Torrens who introduced the Torrens Land Titles system in 1858.

Lake Torrens is currently run as a cattle breeding enterprise but has the potential and capacity to revert back to sheep. It is rated to run 1360 cattle or 6800 sheep equivalents.

The EU Accredited property is well improved and managed, and conservatively running 342 cows and calves on blue bush, salt bush, native grasses and herbages.

Well watered by eight bores and a dam, there is potential for further water development.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a cottage, quarters, a five-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, four steel cattle yards and various sheds.

Motpena Station

After widespread interest and a number of solid offers, a South Australian producer has successfully secured Motpena Station.

The 55,400ha holding stretches from the shores of Lake Torrens to the foothills of the Flinders Ranges and are located near Parachilna, 103km from Hawker and 208km from Port Augusta.

Owned by the Fels family for 30 years, Motpena has been running a self-replacing Shorthorn cattle herd. Conservatively stocked over recent years, it is rated run 1300 cattle (sheep were last run there in the 1960s).

The Fels have carried out extensive native revegetation on barren claypan flats with water diversion projects.

Featuring substantial floodplain areas fed by the Parachilna and Cottage Creeks, the Commodore Swamp system covers around a third of the property’s southern section.

The property has an abundant underground water supply sourced from 15 equipped bores and five main water meters. An opportunity exists for the incoming purchaser to further expand the watering points and spread the grazing pressure in dry times.

Improvements include a six-bedroom home, numerous sheds, four cattle yards and an old shearers’ quarters providing possible extra accommodation and tourism income.

Nutrien Harcourts agent Brian Barnett handled the sale of Motpena on a walk-in, walk-out basis, but was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid.